Funny thing though…I live in Florida so I know that Salmon had to come from many, many miles away.  Granted, we eat it once a year only when it is fresh and the health benefits of wild salmon are well circulated but I still felt slightly guilty eating my Alaskan treat in sunny and humid Florida.  I guess health is important too!

PS:  What a difference in taste between wild caught never frozen salmon and the farmed, frozen stuff.  The wild stuff did not taste nearly as strong/fishy to me…yummy!

Plus, I buy Spring Water in gallon jugs because our tap water does not taste very good.  Anyone have any experience with the larger water purification systems?  I used Brita and Pur and really was not impressed with either!

Hope to hear back on what you like best!

My second thought however, had to do with wondering what “greening” this particular broadcaster was ready to be done with.  Was it the hybrid SUV’s, which in my opinion seem like kind of a waste for most people, or things like organic twinkies?  I am ready for those things to be over too.  My biggest hope with all of the environmental news and green seals of approval is that people will start to think about what they consume - Do you need it?  and What happens when you are done with it?  I believe that people will start and continue to ask themselves these questions well into the future.

Here are the problems:

1. MOP:  Disposable mopping pad and the not so green mopping fluid in a plastic container that must be replaced

2. VAC:  Disposable filter and dusting cloths

Anyone have some good solutions out there?  Either other brands that don’t have these problems or hacks to make the Swiffer a little greener?  Right now, the best I can come up with is using old rags/tshirts for the dusting cloths on the vac.  This actualy works very well.  Along with a messy dog and toddler, our Florida house is mostly ceramic tile so I use both of these products every day.  However, if I can’t think of something…I might just have to bring back the mop and bucket. 

Anyone have a great brand that they like?  I will finish this bottle but I am hoping to find something else but I haven’t seen another eco-friendly brand at Publix or Target.  Here’s to hoping I find a good one!

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your  blog
3. Write six random things about yourself
4. Tag six random people  at the end of your post by linking to their blogs
5. Let each person know  they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website
6. Let your tagger know when your entry is up

So six random things:

1.  I played on the championship Brain Brawl team in high school.  My brain is filled with lots of useless information.  I still play a mean game of armchair Jeopardy.

2.  I am a teacher and my first real teaching assignment was at an alternative high school.  One of my female students had to be taken out of my classroom by the cops because of threatening to have her gang boyfriend kill me because I asked her to do her work.  She kicked a hole in a desk on her way out. 

3.  I applied to to the college I went to (Florida State) because I liked the pictures in the brochure and it was free (almost) for me to attend.  Probably not the best way to choose, but it worked out great anyway!

4.  I don’t have many regrets in life, but throwing a hamburger at my sister is one of them.

5.  The Perez Hilton celebrity website makes me laugh if I am having a bad day. 

6.  I feel guilty for hating the “green” dishwasher liquid I am using.  It sucks and I really wish I could go back to the Cascade tablets even with all the phosphorus in them

 Six Cool Blogs

1. Have to start with the EcoChic.  Another Florida mom with a green heart.
2. My favorite new blog (along with my own!) Little Green Bag
3. Interesting reading on getting out of debt ASAP: MyDebtFreeGoal
4. One of my favorite parenting blogs: Flexible Parenting
5. A cool SAHM : Self Made Mom
6. Great political mommy site -always something to think about : Pundit Mom

Happy blog hunting!  Now I just have to remember to tag all of these people!

If you live in the Tampa bay area, I found a great local farm where you can pick your own veggies for a great price.  Urban Oasis Hydroponic Farm is in Tampa, Florida at 5416 W. Linebaugh Ave.  Although the farm is only 2 acres, there are lots of plants!  They all grow hydroponically - in special irrication systems, not directly out of the ground.  And although the owner said he is not certified organic, the produce is not sprayed with harsh chemicals. 

When you arrive, you can pick up a basket and scissors and go out to the farm.  I picked romaine lettuce, red lettuce, and arugula.  This was only $4 a bag.  Plus, I picked up some green peppers, regular tomatoes, and grape tomatoes.  They have many different vegetables growing but the tomatoes seemed to be the most numerous.  In a few weeks, green beans will be coming in.  Sad to say, but I have no idea what green beans look like as they grow so I am looking forward to going back.  The farm is open from 2 to 6pm Thursdays and Fridays and 10 to 4pm on Saturdays.  Here is the original article in our local paper if you would like more info.  Happy Picking!

I hope this kicks off a battle of the fuel efficient vehicles.  Everyone is in a win-win situation if this happens.  I think in the long run, higher fuel prices may turn out to be better for consumers and the environment.  If only our political leadership will stop pandering to our oil dependence by begging Saudi Arabia for more oil and reducing the federal gas tax for the summer, research and development might come down the pipeline making America less energy dependent all the way around.

I am still learning about the various environmental, economic, and political issues at work when you start to talk about climate change.  But, this is one easy thing for all the green bloggers out there to do.  The badge above represents Brighter Planet’s 350 challenge.  The first 350 bloggers that sign up to display the badge on their site will have carbon offsets donated in their name for the amount of CO2 a typical website emits in a year.  Why carbon offsets you say?  According to the challenge website :

 ”Carbon offsets play a crucial role in building a sustainable society. Many renewable energy projects are well suited to produce energy and meet stringent standards, but lack sufficient financing. Carbon offsets fill that void by investing in these projects.”  Also “the importance of the number 350, the parts per million of CO2 in the atmosphere that we must aim for if we want to keep the planet relatively safe.”  Interesting stuff!

I know that congress is currently reviewing America’s Climate Security Act and while the bill has flaws that environmentalists and manufacturers want to see fixed (what bill doesn’t?) I think it is great the conversation on what America will be doing to control CO2 emissions is really coming to the forefront.  It will take a mix of good policy and personal change to see any difference in the climate change dilemma but it looks like change is inevitable.